A MAN stole credit cards from his great-grandparents, one of whom was dying from cancer.

Tameside Magistrates' Court jailed Ashley Morris, 21, for eight months after he admitted the thefts to fund a drink and drugs habit.

They began when Neville and Amy Godwin, both in their 80s, moved in with other family members after Mrs Godwin - who has since died - was diagnosed with cancer.

Morris had been living at the same address on Stockport Road, Gee Cross, Hyde on and off since 2006 and also spent time at his great-grandparents' Droylsden home.

Prosecutor Amanda Hartley said Mrs Godwin noticed her Halifax debit card was missing on 18 November. Her branch told her £300 had been withdrawn. A clerical error prevented the card being cancelled, enabling Morris to make further withdrawals totalling £670.88.

Mr Godwin discovered on 5 December from bank statements that withdrawals on a storecard had been made without his knowledge.

Morris forged his signature and used the card to buy items worth £1,248 from Halfords on Ashton's Snipe Retail Park and a laptop computer worth £999.99 and laptop speakers worth £199.99 from nearby Comet. He later sold these two items for £600.

On 6 January Mr Godwin discovered a cheque had been removed from his cheque book and an unused credit card was missing. Mr Godwin found the missing cheque when packing Morris' belongings to chuck him out.

Between 12-14 February Mr Godwin also discovered a satellite navigation system was missing from his Droylsden address.

Morris' previous convictions included theft in 2004.

Defending, Chris Squibbs said while the thefts represented an "absolutely massive breach of trust", his family was still supportive.

"He had taken illegal drugs and alcohol during a time of considerable stress and anxiety for everybody concerned," he said.

Magistrates jailed Morris for four months each for stealing the sat nav and for the thefts from Mrs Godwin. He was given a four-month concurrent sentence for the other offences.

The chairman of the bench told him: "These were despicable offences systematically committed in a great breach of trust against elderly, vulnerable victims."